Irvine, however, believes the FA panel will be reasonable once they hear Albion's argument on the player's behalf.

"We're not in control, it's out of our hands, but I think it would be amazing if we didn't get this one over the line,'' said Irvine on the club's official website. "Cristian has played just over 70 percent of the games for his country, but they've factored into those figures a non-Fifa ranked tournament which his club stopped him going to.

"They kept Cristian back to play in some league games.''

The club are also on the brink of concluding a move for Australia left-back Jason Davidson. The Baggies have had to wait patiently for Davidson to resolve a contract dispute with Dutch Eredivisie club Heracles Almelo.

Davidson, who played in Australia's three World Cup group matches, believed he had finished his contract with Heracles and had become a free agent.

Heracles, however, informed Davidson they had triggered a one-year option on that deal and he was still their player. Albion now appear to be closing in on a resolution and talks over terms and a medical are scheduled to go ahead this week.